Tile has been the most famous name in Bluetooth location tracking devices for years. Idea is a niche of sorts – attach a small piece of tech to your keys, wallet, suitcase or anything else of value and you’ll be able to use your phone to find it if it goes missing. But now other companies have jumped on board with the idea, and Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag is the latest competitor to hit the market.
With a price tag of $30 and a sleek design, the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag is certainly an attractive proposition. But is it better than Tile’s similarly priced Tile Mate, and should you spend your money on it? We caught up with the two to find out.
Glasses
| Samsung Galaxy SmartTags | Tile Mate | |
| Size | 39.11 x 39.11 x 9.9 mm (1.54 x 1.54 x 0.39 inches) | 35 x 35 x 6.2 mm (1.38 x 1.38 x 0.24 inches) |
| Weight | 0.46 ounces (13 grams) | 0.2 ounces (5.7 grams) |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Span | 390 feet (120 meters) | 200 feet (61 meters) |
| Water resistance | No | Waterproof |
| Battery | CR2032 (replaceable)
Lifespan of “months” |
CR1632 (replaceable)
Lifetime of 1 year |
| Compatibility | Samsung Galaxy smartphones only | Most Android and iOS devices |
| Colors | Black, oat, blue-green, pink | White |
| Price | 30 dollars | 25 dollars |
| Buy from | Samsung | Amazon |
To shape
- 1. Samsung SmartTag
- 2. Tile Mate
“Square” is how we’d describe both, and they share a lot of visual similarities. The Tile Mate has sharper edges than the curves of the SmartTag, but that’s really all that differentiates them. But size is a much bigger concern when you’re dealing with a device you could attach to your keys, and that’s where the Tile Mate really shines. It’s slightly smaller than the Samsung SmartTag in every dimension, but it’s also significantly lighter at less than half the weight of the SmartTag. While we are talking about the difference between 13 grams and 5.7 grams, it will be a noticeable difference while attached to your keys.
But SmartTag has a surprise up its sleeve. Or rather, in its case. The center of the SmartTag is actually a button, and you can set it to control devices connected to your Samsung SmartThings app. If it’s attached to your keys, holding the button can turn on the lights in your house, while pressing it once can start a playlist of your favorite songs in the kitchen. It’s a neat little feature and means there’s a reason to use the SmartTag even when you haven’t lost your keys.
While the size of the Tile Mate is a big plus for it, the SmartTag’s smart button is also very useful. This is a tie.
Winner: Undecided
Span
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
The primary way Bluetooth trackers work is — unsurprisingly — via Bluetooth. Essentially, your tracking device pings other devices nearby, which relay the information back to your device. It’s basically a high-tech way for devices to say, “Oh yeah, I saw them there.” So, the range at which your tracker can ping other devices is important, because the longer the range, the higher the chances that the other device will see it.
Samsung’s SmartTag is the big winner here, with a range of 130 yards. That means just under 120 meters (or 390 feet). In contrast, the Tile Mate’s range is 61 meters (or 200 feet). While that range will vary depending on the environment, as buildings will block the signal, the Samsung’s dramatically longer range is clearly a huge advantage and wins this round.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy SmartTag
Battery life
Andrew Martonik/Digital Trends
The batteries in Bluetooth trackers are often replaceable, but longer battery life means they’re less likely to fade when you need them most. Both of these trackers use replaceable watch batteries, but the Tile Mate steps up with a claimed battery life of one year. That’s a bigger statement of confidence than Samsung, which simply says the watch’s battery in the SmartTag will last for months. A year is usually longer than months, so it’s clear that Tile Mate wins here by default.
Winner: Tile Mate
Software and compatibility
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
It goes without saying that the more devices your Bluetooth tracker is compatible with, the more likely it is to be picked up by a passing phone or tablet. Unfortunately, Samsung doesn’t seem to have thought of that, as it has only made the SmartTag compatible with other Samsung devices running Android 8.0 Oreo or higher. Sure, Samsung is one of the biggest phone brands out there, and it uses the built-in SmartThings app, so it’s a pretty broad church, but it still feels like a misstep.
Tile Mate works with any Android device running Android 8.0 Oreo or later, or any iOS device running iOS 12 or later. However, keep in mind that people around you must also download the Tile app for tracking to work properly. However, with the ability to work on many more phones, we give this to Tile Mate.
Winner: Tile Mate
Availability and price
The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag is currently available from Samsung and costs $30 for a single tag. Samsung has promised multipacks coming soon, but for now you can only buy them as individual trackers.
Tile Mate is available from a number of retailers, and a single tracker will set you back $25. However, you can also buy bundles with multiple Tile trackers to save money.
Overall winner: Tile Mate
The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag is clearly an excellent tracker with its long range, built-in smart button and ability to track across a large number of Samsung devices. However, that last point is something of a blow. Not only do you currently have to own a Samsung device to use the tracker, but you’re effectively locked out of using any other phone for as long as you want to use the SmartTag.
In contrast, the Tile Mate may not have as much Bluetooth range as the Samsung option, but it has a longer battery life and the ability to use it on almost any Android or iOS device. Tile Mate is the clear winner here, and really, you should only invest in Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag if you’re already invested in Samsung devices and intend to stay that way. The Tile Mate remains one of the best Bluetooth trackers on the market and that makes it our pick.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn